B. Improve urban public safety
The region’s urban communities can thrive only if they are safe places to live. MetroFuture seeks a reduction of crime rates in all municipalities, while calling for the biggest improvements in urban areas where crime rates are now worst. This can be accomplished through application of innovative youth violence prevention and community policing programs, increased use of crime analysis, and prisoner reentry programs that will help to reduce rates of recidivism.
Currently, there is considerable regional disparity in crime rates. Violent crime rates in the Inner Core (7.6 per 1,000) are four times as high as violent crime rates in Maturing and Developing Suburbs (1.8 & 2.0 per 1,000, respectively.) Property crime rates follow a similar pattern.
While there are many different reasons for higher crime rates in urban communities, youth violence is a particularly troubling and prominent problem. Recent experience has demonstrated that a multi-pronged approach involving police, community groups, service agencies, and youth can successfully help to prevent youth violence. Similar collaboration is the cornerstone of community policing, which can demonstrate great success if it has the necessary financial and organizational support. A more robust information infrastructure for crime data will help police departments to address crime issues proactively and assess their performance. More public access to crime data, through web-based crime mapping tools, will help to correct misconceptions and foster more effective community-based solutions to crime. Preventing recidivism is a critical component of crime prevention in urban areas and requires a more systemic and evidence-based approach to offender reentry, including collaboration with non-traditional partners such as community leaders and service providers.
5) Support proven youth violence prevention programs
6) Increase community policing efforts
Post new comment